The moment the powder reacted, staining the official's fingertips with an unmistakable dark hue, a collective gasp rippled through the hall. The emperor's expression darkened instantly, his sharp gaze locking onto the trembling official, Xun Zhong. The weight of the imperial presence bore down like an executioner's blade, suffocating all who dared to remain in the room.
"Your Majesty, I-!" Xun Zhong stammered, hastily retracting his hands as if to hide the evidence. "This must be a mistake! Someone must have planted this on me! I swear, I had no part in this!"
Feng Jiao Xue's gaze remained cold, unyielding. "You claim innocence, yet the reaction is undeniable. The poison was on you, Official Xun. Are you suggesting the emperor's own imperial healers are mistaken?"
Xun Zhong's face paled further. "N-no! Of course not! But please, Your Majesty, I have served the empire loyally for decades-there must be some misunderstanding! I would never-!"